Chelsea are ready to try to sign Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in January transfer if the England international shows interest in a move, the report claims.
Earlier this week, a report came out of nowhere claiming that Chelsea “leading the race” to sign Mainoo amid a lack of progress in talks over a new deal at Old Trafford.
This then sparked a flurry of reports about Mainoo’s future at United, which I no longer perceive a 19-year-old high school graduate as ‘untouchable’ due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desire to raise money to use in the transfer market.
While Chelsea’s interest in Mainoo appeared to be centered around cutting the price down the stretch, The Times states that the move could be made as early as this month if Mainoo shows interest.
Mainoo has a contract with United until 2027, with a 12-month extension clause effectively tying him down until 2028. The Red Devils have no active desire to sell Mainoo and want to reward his emergence with a new deal, but their need to sell before buying new players has forced them to accept that any player who currently on the books can be signed for the right price.
Sky Sports News stress that Mainoo is not unhappy at United, who is believed to have privately confirmed to the teenager that he is seen as a key part of the club’s future.
If Mainoo maintains his commitment to United, a move to Chelsea it would prove incredibly complicated as, while the Red Devils would be interested in the pure profit generated by selling academy talent, they would still likely demand a huge figure for a player whose contract gives them control of the situation for the next three years.
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